Minister Peter Burke leads Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland Trade Mission to Canada

• Enterprise Ireland client exports to Canada increased to record levels in 2024, reaching an all-time high of €585 million, representing growth of 32% from 2021.
• Enterprise Ireland client companies CodeEast, Sheenco Travel and HiTech Health, announce new partnerships and market entries.
• Series of meetings planned with existing IDA Ireland clients and target companies in the Tech, Engineering and Financial Services sectors with operations in Ireland.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke T.D., is today leading a joint Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland four-day Trade Mission to Toronto and Ottawa, to boost trade relationships, promote world class Irish companies to the Canadian market and highlight Ireland’s attractiveness for Canadian companies seeking to expand to Europe. Thirty Enterprise Ireland clients will participate on the Trade Mission, with a focus on the financial services, life sciences and technology sectors. 

With Ireland poised to fully ratify the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in 2026, this week’s trade mission underscores a shared goal: deepening investment, expanding procurement access, and creating jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.

Enterprise Ireland announced a record-breaking year for Irish exports to Canada earlier this year, reaching an all-time high of €585 million in 2024. This milestone reflects a 32% growth in exports over the past three years, underscoring the deepening trade relationship between the two countries. 

Reflecting the momentum of Irish firms in the Canadian market, there are approximately 300 Enterprise Ireland client companies regularly exporting to Canada across key sectors including digital technologies, industrial tech, high-tech construction, fintech, agritech and education. In 2024, 55 Irish companies entered the Canadian market for the first time, highlighting Ireland’s strategic focus on expanding its global reach and market diversification.

Canada is an important source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for Ireland with the number of new IDA clients originating from Canada growing steadily over the last number of years, due to the growing links between the two economies and increased opportunities between Canada and Europe.  Ireland is an attractive location for Canadian companies to invest due to access to the European and EU Market, the deep talent pool available and to grow and serve the customer base in a business friendly and pro-enterprise country.  This trade mission includes meetings with decision makers from some of the leading and most innovative companies in Canada in key sectors of focus for IDA Ireland, including Tech, Engineering and Financial Services.

Commencing the Trade Mission in Toronto, Minister Burke said; “In line with our recently published Market Diversification Strategy I am delighted to lead the Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland Trade Mission to Canada, where we will visit Toronto and Ottawa. 

Irish companies already make a significant impact to the Canadian economy, with exports reaching a record €585 million in 2024, Canada being the 4^th largest market for Irish technology and services companies.  I look forward to promoting Ireland as both a source of world-class products and services and as a world-leading destination for FDI on my visit.

Ireland’s continued contribution to FDI to Canada, at almost $14 billion, highlights the depth of the economic ties between both countries and we believe there is significant opportunity for future growth, both for Irish companies and for Canadian companies seeking a European base.

Ireland’s long established trading relationships are underpinned by strong political and people-to-people connections and it important that we continue to invest in these relationships and maximise the value from diverse markets.”

Key events during the Trade Mission include a strategic meeting between leading Canadian telecoms network Rogers and Irish telecoms company Alpha Wireless, a cybersecurity roundtable featuring Siren, Daon, and Waratek, and a Canada-Ireland Tech Event at the CN Tower. 

A Women in Leadership Roundtable will spotlight Irish firms such as Workhuman, Osborne Recruitment, and PulseLearning, promoting cross-border dialogue on talent, innovation, and leadership. Minister Burke and Enterprise Ireland CEO Jenny Melia will host a number of roundtables and Irish company engagements to celebrate market milestones and foster deeper collaboration.

Minister Burke will also officially launch the Enterprise Ireland Ireland-Canada Advisory Tech Council, aimed at further accelerating growth and guiding export-ready tech firms through the Canadian business ecosystem. As part of the launch three Irish tech companies, Brightbeam, Capisso and Maya Data Privacy, will discuss Canadian market entry strategy with tech council members. 

A strategic meeting between Alpha Wireless, an Irish telecommunications company specializing in advanced antenna solutions for wireless networks and Rogers, one of Canada’s largest telecoms networks, will take place during the Trade Mission programme. 

The meeting will focus on discussing opportunities for future technical collaboration, demonstrating the capabilities and commitment Irish companies have to solving complex telecom challenges and fostering high-impact international partnerships.

Enterprise Ireland CEO Jenny Melia commented; “This weeks Trade Mission to Canada reaffirms Enterprise Ireland’s commitment to strengthening bilateral trade, promoting world-class innovation, and supporting the continued diversification of Irish companies in one of the world’s most dynamic and growing markets. 
Our team in Toronto are focussed on supporting more companies to succeed in this exciting market. We now have 300 Enterprise Ireland client companies exporting to Canada on a regular basis, reflecting sustained growth in recent years—especially within the construction, digital technology, and fintech sectors."

Commenting on the Trade Mission, Mary Buckley, Executive Director, IDA Ireland said “We welcome this opportunity to meet with our Canadian clients in market, and to share the strong message that Ireland is an excellent location for companies to expand their global footprint to serve their customer base in Europe.  I look forward to discussing opportunities aligned to our strategy ‘Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation 2025-29’ with our clients and how Ireland can bring even more value to their global footprint and innovation agenda.  Competition for foreign direct investment has never been as intense and trade missions like this play an important role in increasing awareness of Ireland’s offering as an attractive place to invest.”

Irish company announcements during this week’s Trade Mission include; 

HiTech Health is proud to announce the opening of its new office in Montreal, Quebec – marking a significant milestone in its expansion into the Canadian market, strengthening HiTech Health’s North American presence. As a leading Irish CDMO specialising in cell and gene therapy, HiTech Health brings cutting-edge expertise and innovation to support the growing life sciences ecosystem in Canada.

Sheenco Travel, have officially expanded into the Canadian market, partnering with a growing team of Canadian-based Luxury Travel Specialists, who are building their own luxury travel businesses under the Sheenco umbrella. Operating remotely across Canada, Sheenco Travel delivers tailored luxury travel experiences and personalised itineraries for discerning travellers seeking unforgettable journeys to Ireland, the UK, and beyond. 

Irish fintech leader Fenergo has launched its Agentic AI Suite - governed AI agents for onboarding, KYC/AML, screening, and remediation, to the Canadian market. Nearly 50 global banks, including the leading Canadian Financial Institutions, are in the early adopter program with measurable cycle-time reductions. Backed by Enterprise Ireland’s recent investment to accelerate AI innovation in Ireland.

ABEX, one of Canadas leading insurance wholesalers has partnered with Irish insurance software provider CodeEast, to implement the data-driven, AI-ready ONEview platform, transforming its underwriting, operations, and capacity management. The collaboration delivers end-to-end automation, real-time visibility, and data-led decision-making, 

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For reference or photography, please contact: 

Louise Cunningham – International Communications

Louise.cunningham@enterprise-ireland.com